Lingraj Shiv Patil

Lingraj S. Patil, MD, a devoted physician, community leader, husband, father and grandfather, passed away on July 15, 2025, at the age of 90, having been born in Kholapur, Maharashtra, India on May 9, 1935. Sixty five years ago, he and his beloved late wife, Shanta (who passed in 2015), moved to the U.S., shortly after they married. He began his internal medicine residency in Connecticut and completed his training in Cardio Pulmonary medicine in Detroit, where he began his practice and raised his family.

Dr. Patil was a proud father and grandfather and is survived by his daughter, Anita (Tim) and son, Anil (Johanna), granddaughter, Kyra, and grandsons, Ravi and Sanjay. He was known as Uncle Raj to a great number of extended family who were always welcome in the Patil home.

As a clinician, Dr. Patil was adored by his patients, many of whom traveled great distances to consult with him. He trained scores of young physicians throughout his career, leaving a lasting impact on the practice of medicine in southeast Michigan.

As an environmental researcher, his work was critical to forcing the clean up of the Great Lakes. Because of this research federal exemptions were made to keep Raj and Shanta in the U.S. indefinitely, past the end of their visas and made them some of the earliest settled Indian residents of Michigan.

As community organizers, Raj and Shanta helped lead Indian emigres in Michigan to form thriving cultural support organizations in this region, including Maharashtra Mandal and the Bharatiya Temple. He was also very involved with the Rotary Club of Farmington Hills.

Raj was an avid reader, golfer, bridge player and traveler; he and Shanta explored six continents and every U.S. state. He loved botany and successfully nurtured many tropical plants through the harsh Michigan winters.

Raj Patil will be deeply missed, but his legacy will live on in the hearts of his family and all who were fortunate enough to know him.

A Funeral Service for Dr. Patil will be held on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, from 11:30 - 1:00 PM at A.J. Desmond & Sons Funeral Home (2600 Crooks Road, Troy, Michigan 48084). To view the Livestream service, please click HERE. Cremation will follow at Perry Mount Park Cemetery (878 Perry Street, Pontiac, Michigan 48340).

A additional memorial service will be announced in the coming days to celebrate Raj Patil's life and the many lives he touched. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to the www.bharatiya-temple.org.